Environment
Remembering Micah and Honoring his Legacy at Kus-kus-sum
The family of Micah Messent would like to announce their support of the Kus-kus-sum restoration project, and Project Watershed, through the creation of the Micah Messent Legacy Fund.
Cumberland Trails EXTREME WILDFIRE DANGER
At issue is the forecasted hot and dry weather conditions over the August long weekend and beyond, with no significant precipitation in the forecast. With wildfire danger ratings at local stations already at Extreme, all users of the Cumberland trails are asked to be extra cautious and vigilant while recreating in the trail system.
Metal Recycling at Kus-kus-sum
In the spirit of summer fun, Project Watershed is holding a contest to see who can guess the number of full bins of metal that will come of the site. If you want to take a stab at estimating, email Caila.Holbrook@projectwatershed.ca, or post your guess to Instagram or Facebook with #metalrecycling and #kuskussum, by Friday June 23rd. The closest three guesses will win a $25 gift certificate from the Peninsula Co-op. If there are more than three correct guesses we will draw three names from those who have guessed correctly.
Volunteers Working Hard To Rescue Stranded Wild Juvenile Coho Salmon
There are many small seasonal creeks in the Tsolum watershed that have good winter flow that attracts young coho and trout. While at first glance these tributaries might look like ditches, they can be vitally important for wild salmonids.
‘Observation Challenge’ at Seal Bay Nature Park.
“The Observation Challenge is designed to encourage people to spend time in the park and look for 12 ‘things’ along the 7.3-km multi-use Forest Loop trail,” explains Perrin. [The Coast Salish name for Forest Loop is ‘ʔayigən’, pronounced ‘eye-eee-gin’.] “My friend, Anne Smythe, and I had fun riding through Seal Bay to identify items and then I created a list of 12 clues. Things to look for can be natural or man-made and, with the exception of the first one being close to the parking lot, all items are located on — and visible from — the Forest Loop trail. We encourage all participants to stay on the designated trails and to practice the BCHBC’s commitment to ‘Leave no trace.’ Be sure to pack a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes because it takes about two hours to leisurely walk the Forest Loop.”
Beaver Stories, Science and Stewardship
Join us for our first ever CCFS Science Pub ONLINE this Friday Night at 730 pm! Pour yourself a beer (or beverage of your choosing), kick back and get ready for a deep dive into facts and fancy about Beavers! This furry little engineer has a long history and their impacts on the landscape are visible all around the Village of Cumberland. From weird beaver art, to strange beaver rumours, to amazing beaver behavior – get ready for a fun filled evening of learning and laughter.
Briony Penn Speaks at Project Watershed’s Annual General Meeting
Comox Valley Project Watershed Society is hosting their AGM on May 30th and has lined up Briony Penn as their keynote speaker. Briony Penn is a well-known environmental artist, educator and writer. “We are very excited to have Briony speak, her humour and knowledge about the natural world are inspiring in these uncertain times.” said Caitlin Pierzchalski, Project Watershed Executive Director.
New Species on Vancouver Island
The “Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve” was set aside mainly for its rare and vulnerable plants in an unusual dry-site community of plants that one would normally associate with dry grasslands. The Comox Valley is greatly indebted to Betty Brookes for initiating and driving community efforts to set aside this jewel in our natural heritage as of May 1988.
Cumberland Forest Celebrates Earth Week
Join the Cumberland Forest and friends from across the Valley for the Cumberland Earth Week Festival, April 19-25th. The global theme for Earth Day 2021 is “Restore the Earth”. Whether you live in the Village, the wider Comox Valley, the Salish Sea region or across the globe – you are invited to connect for this celebration of biodiversity, restoration, regeneration, climate resilience, and community action.
Kus-kus-sum, formerly Field’s Sawmill Demolition
Removing the building is the precursor to the major demolition work that will occur over the summer to remove the 8.3 acres of concrete that covers the site. Soils and other materials will be transported off the site in preparation of regrading it to natural streamside elevations. Waterways will be created on the site and native vegetation will be planted.
Nominate your CVN Tree of the Year
The Tree of the Year contest is the perfect COVID safe outdoor activity and a wonderful antidote to plant blindness. Ride your bike or walk to actively search our community for a tree you love or know tells a story
Kus-kus-sum Protected
Another significant milestone has been reached in efforts to acquire, protect and restore a former industrial sawmill site on the banks of the K’ómoks Estuary.
Crown the Comox Valley’s ‘Tree of The Year’
“Easily overlooked and often undervalued, trees deserve their moment in the spotlight,” says CVN Director Karen Cummins. “This contest is simply a fun and inclusive way for people to identify and highlight individual trees in the Comox Valley that hold significant interest, cultural importance, strong heritage value or natural beauty.”
CVN Invites The Public To Learn About Restoring Shorelines In The Salish Sea
Shoreline armoring has altered many intertidal beaches. Living Shoreline techniques aim to improve shoreline conditions by re-creating some of the functions of natural shorelines. Recent design implementations include complete removal of armoring, as well as eco-engineering approaches.
Kus-kus-sum Fundraising Blitz Leverages Matching Funds For Final Fundraising Push of 2020
“This will be our last big fundraising push for Kus-kus-sum of 2020” said Kathy Haigh, Fundraising Director, “once the site is purchased the remaining funds will be used to begin the restoration process. Imagine what the site could look like a year from now!”.
Learn About Microplastics In Baynes Sound
Microplastics have emerged as one of the most ubiquitous global pollutants and can enter the marine food web either via direct consumption or by trophic transfer by consuming animals that have taken up microplastics. Researchers from the University of British Columbia worked closely with the Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards and the K’ómoks Guardian Watchmen in 2019 to establish a baseline of microplastic concentration and composition in and around Baynes Sound and to estimate microplastic consumption and uptake by zooplankton, larval herring, and juvenile herring.
Georgia Strait Alliance celebrates 30 years with a Journey Through Time and Place… Virtual Soirée & Online Silent Auction
Whether you are near or far, a long-time supporter or a new one, everyone is welcome at this Soirée.